Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-01
MoRocco's ARMY.
Picturcsque Soldiers Who Arc Compiled
70 1.-Two ON Next to Nothing.

Picturesque Soldiers Who Arc Compiled
to 1.-Two ON Next to Nothing.
The army is divided into two princi-
pal rarts. corresponding to our regu-
lars and militia. The first. the Askari.
or infantry. and these are by far the
smartest in the service. as the drilling
OF these troops falls to Kaid Kald
Maclean, an Englishman. or rather a
Scotchman, who left the British army
for the serviceof the Sultan. and who
fills the post of Instructor-General OF
the forces. Nothing could exceed the
pains and trouble that Kaid Maclean
has taken with his men. who. when he
arrived, were little more than a band
of unruly robbers. but now go through
their drills with a smartnsss that
would do credit to an European army.
Kaid Maclean has had many things
against him at court, but he has
overcome both jealousy and fanati.
cism. and is not only beloved by his
soldiers. but honored by the Emperor
with his full confidence. Living at
Morocco or Fee, according to the
movements of the Sultan, Kaid Mac
lean has entirely given himself up to
his task with untiriug zeal. and it is Ow-
ing to him. and to him alone. that
Morocco can boast an army that, in
case of war. would be able to fight at
all, for. not only has he instructed
them in their drill. but has persuaded
the Sultan to arm a great proportion
of his troops with Martini-Henry
rifles. and also changed their liform
from the picturesque. but cumber-
some. halk and jelab to sort OF
zouavc dress of scarlet and blue. For
the last two wears Kaid Maclean has
been helped in his arduous task by his
brother Captain Alan Maclean. whose
particular duty at present is the trans
port department and a small body OF
regular cavalry, which. up to his ar
rival. was in shocking condition.
The second division of the army
Kaid Maclean is not responsible for
the Mahasni. or cavalry; and in seeing
the two divisions of the army together
one can no: but appreciate the inn
mcnse work that has been done for
the infantry; for the cavalry. armed
with Winchester repeating rifles-ir-
regulars. with vengeance-are in
about rs wild state of barbarity as
could we'll be imagined. They corre-
spond, as mentioned above. to our mi
litia. and. Ike them. are only called out
upon necessity. Another part of the
army-that mi ght almost be said 10
form a division-are the Bokhari. or
black bodyguard of the Sultan. As
to the numbers Of these forces.
they are somewhat uncertain. for
though probably at time
of peace they number thirty
or forty thousand. yet in case of
war of any magnitude there is little
doubt that some hundred thousand
men could be put in the field. That
the soldiers can fight we'll nobody
doubts. for in the Spanish war OF 1859
they worked with such desperation
that for some months the actual result
of the war was doubtful. though
finally. disorganized as they were at
that time and only armed with flint
locks of their own manufacture, they
had to give way to superior force and
power Their pay is miserable. and
more so. because they often go without
it. A foot-soldier gets-or is supposed
to get-four okeas day. or not quite
sixpence. out of which he has to house
and feed himself A cavalry soldiers
pay is six okeas for himself and his
hOrse.-LOndon NeUs